Helping Vendors Help You

By Jim Hofferkamp, BA, CTR | September 1, 2025

Timely implementation of hospital registry software is essential for seamless data transmission and high-quality cancer surveillance. When software delays occur at the hospital level, the effects ripple throughout the cancer surveillance system, creating unnecessary challenges for central registries. Effective collaboration between central registries and hospital software vendors can minimize disruptions and support a stronger data…

Central Registry User Data Dictionary and Edits Metafile

By Lori Havener, CTR | August 18, 2025

The Mid-Level Tactical Group (MLTG) manages the cancer surveillance change control process to ensure an efficient and timely change management process. There are many steps in this process including monitoring the timing of products released. One of the products is the timely release of central registries’ user-defined data dictionaries and registry-specific edits metafiles. Central registries…

Now Available! CiNA Statistics Update

By Recinda Sherman, PhD, MPH, ODS-C | August 11, 2025

NAACCR is pleased to announce that all CiNA data products have been updated with data from the 2024 Call for Data. CiNA Data Products CiNA*Explorer, our on-line query system, focuses on the most recent five years of data and was updated in June. For a quick overview of how to use the system, please refer…

Jumping on the Social Media Bandwagon; Strategic Planning and Alliances Steering Committee Social Media Campaign

By Monique Hernandez, PhD | February 9, 2026

Social media has become a central, if not a primary vehicle for public health communication and campaigns. It helps with reaching a broader audience, promoting health literacy, countering misinformation through posting evidence-based content, and raising awareness about specific health issues, risks, and solutions. Over 80% of U.S. State Departments of Health now have a social…

Benefits of Metafile Testing for Central Registries

By Elaine Collins | February 2, 2026

Testing new metafiles is a great opportunity for central registries to participate in the edit process. For standard metafiles, you get to review new edits, find concept and logic errors, comment on their usefulness and impact they might have on your data, and perhaps even suggest other likely edits. For call for data (CFD) metafiles,…

NCCR Winter Feature

By Fernanda Michels | January 26, 2026

The NCCR Feature Winter Edition highlights the NCCR 2025 Accomplishments and promotes the release of the 2025 AACR Pediatric Cancer Progress Report. 2025 NCCR ACCOMPLISHMENTS NCCR Data Platform Updates Imagine having access to comprehensive cancer surveillance data for children, adolescents, and young adults all in one place—linked to real-world evidence that tells the complete story.…

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OUR MISSION

Actionable content that unites cancer registries.

The Narrative strives to provide you with information you can use to enhance and strengthen your cancer registry. Look to the Narrative for the latest cancer surveillance news, trends, advances in technology, and latest educational opportunities.

OUR VISION

Make every cancer count.

Cancer affects thousands of people across North America every year. Each cancer case must contribute to our knowledge and understanding so that we may reduce the burden of these diseases. Narrative provides a platform for the cancer surveillance community to collaborate and share data that will improve health outcomes.

CANCER REGISTRY SPOTLIGHT: MICHIGAN

Successful Linkage Between Registry Database and LexisNexis

In our ongoing commitment to enhance the quality and accessibility of data, we are thrilled to announce the successful linkage between our registry database and LexisNexis. This integration represents a significant step forward in streamlining our data processes and expanding our analytical capabilities.